Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-02-19
A QUARTER OF A CENTURY
MRS. BELL BALL.

valentine day again? I had moi
thought Of it until I saw the POSTWAR
delivering a handful OF valentines te
you Hilda You are sure there are none
for met"
Perfectly sure Auntie Hilda. 7 know
every one of them, this is from Karl,
here is great large one from that min
ny Dean florence who has piles more
money than brains, one from John Ora
ham and doesn't it look Like him, small
and plain, but solid and this-oh! its the
incest of all auntie, for it's from Donald
Dean. I'll run off AMI look at them
now" And the child Hilda danced of
up the hall, while the woman Hilda en-
tered the morning room and sitting
down beside the low window, she
glanced idly out at the throngs Of peo-
pie passing too and fro. Lifting her
eyes slightly she rested them for an in
slant on stately mansion opposite,
where brightly boyish face was pressed
closely against the pane watching her
window as though seeking some one.
With a soft smile Hilda Lane leaned
back in her rocke +, and said half aloud.
twenty-five years ago it was Donald
Dean and Hilda Lane, and to-day an
other generation bears the same name,
and the same friendly relations" Then
opening small book she held in her
hand she scanned the somewhat faded
writing closely. She made q pretty pic
ture sitting there in the morning sun
light. She had long passed the golden
days of youth, but the soft brown hair
waved above cheeks that still held q
shell pink tint and the blue eyes were as
bright as in girlhood. The book was
blue and gold bound dairy, and the en-
try at which Hilda paused the longest,
was dated:
Feb. IA, 1850. To-day have bad valen-
tiues in the style of books, flowers, candy,
cards with love sick rhymes appended, till
ann tired of them. Not one of them did l
care to get. Donald did not so much as re-
member me with a box of flowers. 1t is
not like him to neglect me so. I think the
day has been almost failure, and the ball
tonight will be stupid / know. l wish
was going with Donald instead of Ed Mad
dox.
The entry seemed to end abruptly,
and the next one was long and blotted
with tears.
Feb. Is.
"And now farewell
Light of ny life, farewell
wonder if the poet felt the force of those
words as feel them tonight. I am young,
vet must. / night have known I was to
frivolous and young to mate with one 80 no.
BILE. Oh! Donald, my beloved, may call
you mine tonight though never again. As
I sat in the early cleaning he came to me
so quietly and laid his hand on my shoulder
with his firm and tender touch that thrilled
through all my being. 81 am called away"
he said in answer to my startled inquiry,
'sand must start tonight. I 60 first to New
land. I could not leave without saying
good bye to my friend, whom / may rot see
again for many months"
I uttered few common place regrets, my
heart was beating SO dared say no more
and he only staid moment longer. AS he
rose to go stood up and held out my hands,
which he took in both of his, and drawing
ne to the window held me for an instant
where the young moon just fading in the
orehead with his lips he dropped Kiss and
vas gone without word. And loved him
10, may love him now, no other love can
,ver be to me what his might have been.
BE is older than am by ten years, and
yrave and quiet, but he has been 80 kind and
ender to me in every way, that l thnk
AVE hoped he was growing to love me- q
title. I haze tried to be more worthy tho
owe of him whom I counted as q king |
.mong men, and have but myself to blame |
or ali this heartache. Through all my life !
bis love will last. and If / live to be an old |
voman. my years will seem brighter because |
f having known Donald Dean.
Hilda paused and glanced at the
,ouse over the way with sad smile,
nd then turning the leaves began read
ne at date year later.
June 1, 1S51.-To-moIrow, in company
nth q party of trends, l will sail tor Eu-
rome. have been thinking over the pas
o-night and wondered if have acted
Dung vet and may find some one to love,
MT I think not. It does not matter much.
have q fortune large enough TO satisfy all
nv wants. and home with brother here,
+ have had since mother and father died.
envy those girls who have always known
mothers care. My childhood seems so
arreu. when compared with theirs. I used
81 think / would be very happy as the wife
a good man some day, but even that
leasure is denied me, not that there is
ok of good men, but love willnot go where
is sent, and marriage without love is
acrileoe to me. think must be the old
,aid amt of the family. / can be very
appy, much happier than If I marry q man
did not love. If had married DON